अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥ १५ ॥
anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ cha yat svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ chaiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa uchyate
Translation
Speech that causes no distress and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the regular study of scripture, is called austerity of speech.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
जो वाणी किसी को उद्वेग न पहुँचाए, सत्य, प्रिय और हितकारी हो, तथा स्वाध्याय का अभ्यास, यह वाणी-संबंधी तप कहा जाता है।
Commentary
This verse is a complete guide to speech. Words should be anudvega-kara (not upsetting), satya (true), priya (kind) and hita (helpful). All four together: truth that wounds needlessly, or kindness that is untrue, does not qualify. It echoes the Manusmriti's saying: "speak the truth, speak what is pleasant; do not speak unpleasant truth, nor pleasant untruth."